9th grade Social Studies
7 units matched to the Maine Learning Results.
Focus areas
- Civics: how government works in Maine and the United States
- Rights, voting and taking part
- Personal finance and economics
Units
Unit 1
Foundations of Democracy
Greek, Roman, English and Enlightenment roots of American government, Tocqueville's view of American democracy, republican and liberal ideas, the Federalist Papers and the Bill of Rights as a limit on government.
Learning standard: Civics & Government 1; History 1 · the roots of democratic ideals and the principles of the Constitution
Unit 2
Taking Part
Ways to take part before and after 18, volunteering and civil society, petitions and peaceful protest, deliberating about tensions in our democracy, and checking news for reliability.
Learning standard: Civics & Government 2; Civics & Government 3 · how citizens take part, from voting and service to civic action
Unit 3
Media & Democracy
Why a free and responsible press matters, broadcast, print and online media, how officials use media to shape opinion, and how to spot misinformation, bias and spin.
Learning standard: Civics & Government 2 · the media's role in a democracy and judging sources of news
Unit 4
Governing Maine
How Maine governs itself within the federal system: ranked-choice voting, citizen initiatives and the people's veto, split electoral votes, the Clean Election Act, a part-time citizen legislature, federalism and the Bill of Rights, and civic duties compared with civic responsibilities.
Learning standard: Civics & Government 1; Civics & Government 2 · the structures and processes of government in Maine and the United States, and the rights, duties and responsibilities of citizens
Unit 5
How the Nation Governs
The United States government: the three articles that set up Congress, the presidency and the courts, terms and powers, checks and balances, the Bill of Rights and later amendments, landmark cases, and how the US system compares with a parliamentary one.
Learning standard: Civics & Government 1; Civics & Government 2 · the purpose, structures and processes of the American political system, and the rights in the Constitution, the Bill of Rights and landmark cases
Unit 6
Money Smarts
Personal finance: gross and net pay, simple and compound interest, the Rule of 72, discounts, credit cards and credit scores, budgets and emergency funds, banks and credit unions, insurance, and spreading risk across investments.
Learning standard: Personal Finance · saving, investing and managing money, consumer credit, and strategies for money and risk management
Unit 7
Markets & the Economy
Economics: supply and demand, shortages and surpluses, GDP, inflation and unemployment, the Federal Reserve and fiscal policy, specialization, comparative advantage and trade, and economic systems, with examples from Maine.
Learning standard: Economics; Global Connections · markets, financial institutions, economic indicators and policy, and economic systems around the world
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